A Little Folly!

“As dead flies give perfume a bad smell, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.” (Ecclesiastes 10:1 NIV)

The dead attract flies who are drawn by the decay and odor and when I see flies swarming–over any dead thing–I smell the odor that accompanies death. When people choose to function without wisdom from above and have no honor–for themselves or others, the folly that is the end result–outweighs the good of those who operate with wisdom and honor.

We see demonstration of folly getting more attention that wisdom on a daily basis. One of the reasons most people there is more bad or evil in the world is because that is what is reported the most.

Racism seeps and creeps into minds of people who think that all people are like those who are reported caught in doing stupid or evil. People from all races of people–all ethnic backgrounds–do stupid, but that does not mean that all the people categorized as that particular race do stupid all the time.

Because all we hear or see in the news is negative–we soon develop negative attitudes about all sorts of things. Most of us no longer trust politicians because of a few doing stupid things while in office, but that doesn’t mean that all politicians are corrupt, dishonest, adulterers, or philanderers. Not all politicians are only interested in preserving the economic classicism that exists in this country, but the few that actually care about people are seldom discussed in the news.

Not all teachers are sexual predators, but because those who are have made the headlines on more than one occasion, some people think that teachers are the reason for all the ills of education.

Not all teenagers are foolish and depraved, but when we only see those who are–splashed across the television screen or posted on social media doing stupid, we tend to think that all teenagers act like those we see–shown in a negative light.

Not all preachers or priests or church leaders are morally bankrupt, but we wouldn’t know that if we base our opinions on what we see in the news.

Not all poor people commit crimes, live off welfare and are ignorant. There are a number of people who commit crimes who were not raised in poverty, and are highly educated, but those are not the ones who get the negative reports and we make assumptions about the poor that are not true of all poor.

I’m thankful that God has given me an observant heart and a desire to understand people and why they do things. I try not to draw conclusions about anyone without having sufficient information to do so. I’m not inclined to try to persuade others to share my opinions about people because others may have different experiences with the same people and have different outcomes. When we draw conclusions about people without understanding– and we don’t have to know everything about them–we are guilty of being presumptuous and foolish.

When people are going through difficult times and don’t acknowledge us, we cannot conclude that they have a problem with us. The reality is–the problem is usually with us because we expect people to act as we want them to act.

I’m guilty of expecting people in certain positions–especially positions of leadership–to act with integrity and honor. And when that doesn’t happen, I tend to not respect them in their positions because the position is being disrespected. A little folly–being self-absorbed, thinking the world should evolve around us–leads to others having a bad impression of the whole and those who actually function with integrity, are overlooked.

O Lord, help us to be more like You, more determined to understand and slower in drawing erroneous conclusions about people or situations in which we do not have sufficient information. Help us to not spread negative reports, but to do all we can to function with integrity and honor, seeking wisdom from You, at all times.

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Disappointing Joy

“My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father–Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” (I John 2: 1,2 NIV)

Things that bring great joy

Sometimes allow disappointment to seep

Into our beings, clinging, cloying our minds,

Taking away the good, replaced with evil thoughts,

Designed to lead one into temptation’s snares,

Choking back the warnings aired, stifling desire to do right,

Ignited by temptation’s blinders, shackled by flesh

Ignoring Spirit’s, “Warning, Warning, Danger ahead!”

And then when speckled, stained, tainted memory’s dust,

Takes time to see beyond the smeared rainbow bent,

By disobedience, and distrust, joy once known, disappoints

And the nerves once tinkling with anticipation, now dulled

By pain and anguish, frustration and guilt–Not by what’s done,

But the warning ignored and disregarded, like so many

Who came before, refusing to heed the signs of the times,

Determined to do things our own way, without clear vision,

Minds clouded by love and lights that falsely portray.

No matter what we do or have done, John reminds us,

Our lives are not about us, but Him, and our missteps,

Forgiven, forgotten when we repent,

Sincerity ballooning our hearts and mouths, as we seek,

Forgiveness of others and forgiving ourselves,

Remembering great joy can be disappointing.

Although we claim the joy of the Lord is our strength, we sometimes forget that it is because of His sacrifice that we are saved from ourselves and that is the joy we have in Him. However, He takes great joy in our success when we obey and then when we are tempted beyond our own ability to resist, we are disappointed with us. When we don’t know how to forgive “self” for not heeding warnings, we make matters worse by taking our disappointment out on others.

Let’s heed the warning of God’s Word and all who have our best interest in mind. He gives us warnings to keep us safe from harm and when we do not heed them, we step into the snare set by enemy to create chaos and confusion. Let’s give the devil no place in our lives and kick confusion in the outer realms of Satan’s domain, so he is the only one confused.

There is great joy in serving The Lord and derived from our obedience, but we must take care to do all things according to The Word and not attempt to rely upon our own wisdom. Holy Spirit’s job is to remind us of those things we have been taught, and show us things to come and when we see danger, we must be diligent to warn those in harm’s way. If we see danger and say nothing, the end result is on us; but if we see danger and warn others and they don’t pay attention to the warning, the end result is on them. God’s Word has not changed and will not change and we must learn to hear Holy Spirit or those to whom He has spoken.

When we do what God would have us to do, we will not know–disappointing joy, but joy to the full in Jesus Christ!

Nothing Hidden From God!

“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgement, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” (Ecclesiates 12:1,14 NIV)

Closed doors, under the sheets, in the dark, disguised, cloaked, lies, manipulations, deceptions–nothing can keep anything hidden from God–it all comes to light, eventually.

When we do things we think no one knows about but us, we truly deceive ourselves. Those of us who know God, know He is all seeing, omnipresent, and omniscient. He sees all, He hears all, and knows all–and why not–He’s God. For those who don’t know Him, or at least won’t acknowledge His existence–it doesn’t matter–we’ll all be judged by the same standards whether we Believe or not.

Think about these things! No child has ever done anything that God didn’t know about and eventually parents discovered–even when the child thought no one would ever know. What one of the marvelous attributes about Holy Spirit is that He’ll reveal truths to all who are willing to listen so that none of us are taken unaware of the things going on around us that we may not see.

Adulterers and fornicators who think no one knows what they’re doing behind closed doors and under the sheets deceive themselves for when God allows them to be exposed, they have no defense. No hidden thing shall remain hidden–God will bring it all to light.

For the politicians who make shady deals with those who are seeking to control others and consumer goods–making sure the rich stay rich–God sees it and that, too will be judged according to God’s standards. They have forgotten that God knows the heart and He knows when the poor and needy, and vulnerable are put at a disadvantage–to keep others rich.

For those who commit crimes–cloaking their faces with hoodies and masks–God knows who they are. They cannot hide from Him and eventually, because most criminals are stupid enough to brag about what they do, they’ll be exposed and receive the appropriate consequence for their actions. Nothing is hidden with a piece of fabric or plastic from God.

For students who cheat on tests and think they’ve gotten away with something, God knows and every observant teacher or professor knows, too. I’ve always laughed to myself when I know people have cheated because they have the same answers–right or wrong–and it’s always the students who never take notes or study who try to cheat on those who do. When i grade their papers, I always comment that they’re better off using their on brains, in red ink beside the “zero” and then I let them see their paper, but I keep them for my records.

For those who engage in digital misbehavior, there is nothing hidden from God. Emails and text messages are retrieved and the misdeed exposed. Phone conversations are recorded, photos taken and publicly aired so all the world can see, what they thought was hidden. There is nothing hidden from God!

Even conversations held with some “in confidence” find their way to the surface of the subject of the conversation; especially in the heat of anger and frustration. Nothing hidden from God or others, even when we think it is.

Truth–as I stated yesterday–is very liberating. Unfortunately, many don’t like hearing truth, when it means they need to reconsider how they do things. I’d rather be found in truth than in a lie so the truth will be exposed and I never have to fear a lie being exposed. There is nothing, absolutely nothing hidden from God!

Truth, Mercy, and Love!

“Show me Your ways, Lord, teach me Your paths, Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long. Remember, Lord, Your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to Your love remember me, for You, Lord, are good.” (Psalm 25:4-7 NIV)

Sometimes, admitting the truth a matter can be a shock to the system and an ego, but the truth–no matter how much it may hurt–is always liberating. “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall you free.” The truth–about so many things that has entangled my time, has shown me that I’m too old to do certain things and must make way for younger people to do them.

The truth of matter is–I’m from the old school–the school that taught us that our word was supposed to mean something and when we commit to doing something, we should honor our commitments.

Apparently–commitment and honoring one’s word is not taught much these days and as a result–confusion ensues and chaos thrives when commitment is not honored. I know some would say I’m too old-fashioned, but I like who I am and the values I was taught and would like to think that I still exhibit. When I say I’m going to do something, I try to do just what I say, I’m going to do. Now, unexpected things may occur that would hinder my mission, but attempts are always made to stay focused on the mission.

My focus on trying to make sure an event was a success, proved to be a distraction–not a fatal one, but a distraction none-the-less and made me aware, that one person cannot undertake the responsibility of what requires a small army of committed people. My first mistake was in trusting others to honor their word.

But God is merciful and He has shown me mercy and not allowed things to get so far out of hand, they could cause irreparable damage. That’s one of the things I love most about our God–His mercy and love–in spite of us. He never lets us down and in spite of my own shortcomings, the event was successful–as defined by Him, not me. We had absolutely wonderful weather for an outdoor event, sunny skies, and moderate temperatures. People were friendly and most complimentary. I’d like to believe the end result was a testament of His love for me because He knew, I didn’t have a clue as to what I was doing, but He made it possible to happen any way.

So, with this event, I’ve learned some valuable lessons–about me and others. I do not have to accept responsibility for the things that others do or don’t do, but I must own my missteps and correct. I cannot expect others to uphold the same standards I have because they are not me and I don’t know what they’ve been taught. I can count on friends and relatives–when all else falls apart–to keep their word. Most of all, I’ve learned to expect the unexpected and have an appropriate response to it all.

Thanking God this morning for allowing me to see truth about me, be grateful for His mercy, and ecstatic over His love for me. And yeah–facing truth–is very liberating!

Come and See His Great Works!

“Shout for joy to God, all the earth! Sing the glory of His name; make His praise glorious. Say to God, “How awesome are Your deeds! So great is Your power that Your enemies cringe before You. All the earth bows down to You; they sing praise to You, they sing the praises of Your name. Come and see what God has done, His awesome deeds for mankind!” (Psalm 66: 1-5 NIV)

After a sea-tossed night, twisting and turning in bed, trying to remember if everything has been done to assure a successful day, I woke–remembering those things I forgot to do and now must find a way to do before the first session begins. And before I could panic, I remember hearing God say before I fell asleep--“I’ve got this!”

I had been telling people all week, “God’s got this” no matter what happens–what people do or don’t do. So, His reminder again this morning set me straight and got me going–energized and ready for the day–so I can say, “Come and See His Great Works!”

Because of vandalism to one of our banners, I now have to “re-do” some work, but I will and it will all work together–for the good of the event that raises funds to support our band.

This week has not just been about preparation for our fundraiser, but the experience has taught me lessons–life lessons–that I won’t quickly forget.

Trust God–not people for people will let you down.

Prepare for the worst, but always expect the best--when we belong to Him–His best is always better than our best.

Stay focused on what He can do, not yourself–no matter how much we know, our knowledge is limited, while His is infinite.

Start early–doing whatever needs to be done--from the planning to the preparation to the actual doing. Late starts result in confusion and something being left undone.

Give thanks and sing His praises no matter what happens.

Breathe–deeply–and know that He who created our very beings, knows how to settle us and calm us before the enemy has time to plant his seeds of doubt.

Know that God loves us and His love will sustain us when we remember that all we do–is all about Him and bringing Him glory, not ourselves.

This list could go on–but I’m getting an early start for final checks and getting ready to see what Great Works He does throughout this day!

Our Help!

“On my bed I remember You; I think of You through the watches of the night, Because You are my help, I sing in the shadows of Your wings. I cling to You; Your right hand upholds me.” (Psalms 63:6-8 NIV)

Whenever we think that we are in a situation or a challenge alone, we must remember we’re never alone, for He is always with us and will be with us when all others forsake us.

This is one of those times when I really needed this reminder. All week long, I’ve been battling Murphy’s law–trying to keep my head up, my faith in tact and my temper under control. Whenever I felt like lashing out, Holy Spirit quickly checked me and reminded me I am not alone. Even though so many things have happened at the last minute to threaten the success of a major fundraiser for which I’m chairing–I can move forward–slightly disheveled and lighter in weight–but still smiling, still expectantly waiting to see what great things The Lord has in store for us.

Throughout life, no matter how carefully we think we plan an event, we must always be ready to respond to the unexpected--the changes that appear to thwart our success, but are actually there to test our mettle–how do we respond to irksome situations over which we have absolutely no control.

In every situation, we learn from experience that we must have a contingency plan (hearing God every step of the way). I’ll admit, sometimes we get so caught up in trying to make sure that every thing turns out right that we get distracted and miss pertinent instruction because of the “noise” of distraction.

No matter how many times the enemy has attempted to speak to my mind and stir up doubt–I have moved forward with tenacity–determined to see this event through to the end and no matter what else happens, I will be thankful for the opportunity and grateful to God for seeing me through it–He is my help–when I can count on no one else–He gives me insight and direction and strength to keep going. Through the pain of an afflicted body and through the tears shed when no one is looking, I hold onto His love and know that He’ll never let me down. And though I seek success based upon how I define success–the end result will be all that God intends it to be–all to His glory.

Our help–comes from the Lord! It is He who divinely inspires us to keep going. It is He who strengthens tired bodies and minds, and it is He who speaks to the hearts of others and stirs them to want to help. It is He who gives us joy and a song to sing in praise of Him. It is He who provides what we need in spite of naysayers and doubters. O Give Thanks to The Lord–Our Help in times of need.

I’m thanking God for all the people who are hearing Him speak to their hearts and obeying His voice. Our Help–from the generosity of donations of goods, to the volunteers streaming in to help us–are all a direct result of prayer and faith in Him who knows all things and does all things well. Hallelujah!

What God Has Prepared!

“We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. However, as it is written: What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”–the things God has prepared for those who love him–these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 2:6-10 NIV)

Every time I get discouraged (and I do–momentarily) about the things I see, I ask God to speak to my heart and show me the way I should go. For those who understand hearing Holy Spirit and understand that Holy Spirit will only speak those things that God speaks, we know–no matter what things look like--God has prepared something great for those who love Him. 

What has He prepared for you? Only Holy Spirit can reveal God’s truth and wisdom to those willing to hear and obey.

And when we are in the midst of doing things and challenges arise, we must be mindful–at all times–of the wisdom we have with access through Holy Spirit. We do not have to know how to do all things, but if we are willing to listen, He can guide us in all things. When others attempt to advise us with their limited “human wisdom” we can go straight to the throne of God, and get wisdom from above–and sit back and watch how amazed others are or will be by the things God accomplishes through us.

Knowing that it is He who accomplishes our success is key. Without God, I could do nothing–worthwhile–for I am totally dependent upon Him. When I need answers and cannot rely upon others to provide them, I ask God and He shows me what to do. Through His wisdom, I have achieved success in areas that amazed me and left others shaking their heads. But when God speaks to us and we see the end results of our obedience, we must not allow our accomplishments to go to our heads, thinking we know anything. I freely admit–I know nothing but God’s love and I know His love will see me through anything and because I am willing to hear Him, I can say with confidence–“I can do all things through Him who loves me” and I know, “Nothing is impossible with God”. Having this mindset–keeps me moving forward–with great expectation–ready to see and receive what He has prepared for me.

Though the naysayers and doubters would rather complain than believe and trust in God, I will stand firmly, immovable, in my faith in God and my willingness to hear Him. We must be careful when we must interact with others because their lack of faith can creep into our spirits and cause us to miss what God has prepared for us, when we are distracted by the “noise” of unbelief and doubt.

Human wisdom is totally lacking when it comes to understanding the things of the Spirit. Those without benefit of Holy Spirit’s guidance will never understand those who operate with Holy Spirit guiding them–every step of the way. Remember, no one has heard or seen nor can they imagine all the good things God has prepared for those who love Him!

When God Pours Out His Spirit!

“In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams, Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Acts 2:17,18, 21 NIV)

When Peter was preaching to the crowd–who heard those who were speaking and understanding their languages other than their own culture, he had to tell them the people were not drunk as with wine since it was only nine in the morning, but they were responding to the outpouring of God’s Spirit and functioning in His realm. As a reminder, Peter told them what the prophet Joel had already predicted–what would happen in the last days when God poured out His Spirit upon all–men and women–indiscriminately.

There is so much that can be said about this particular passage of scripture that it would take more than one posting, but I’ll try to stick with one primary theme–God is not biased and holds no one in greater esteem than another. In spite of continuing conflict within the Body of Christ as to the roles of men and women–particularly women–in ministry, we see a clear picture of God’s view of who can speak on His behalf and that would be-anyone upon whom God has poured His Spirit and they have received it.

Since Peter reiterated what Joel had said, we can infer that women were present at the time of the outpouring of God’s on the day of Pentecost and we know–there were women in the room from previous accounts as recorded in Acts. If the women were not functioning under the unction of the Holy Spirit--there would have been no need for Peter to remind those listening of what had been said by Joel. But he did and so we can accurately conclude that the women were speaking and ministering to the those in the crowd.

That was then and nothing has changed–in spite of male tendency to think that God will not use women in ministry, God knows who He will use and He doesn’t need permission or approval of any man.  I cannot begin to recount the number of times I was told that, “God don’t call women to preach.” I remember clearly when God woke me to tell me that I was to teach His Word at three o’clock in the morning and I lay in bed, arguing with Him—because I did not see myself worthy or knowledgeable. Later than morning, while in church service, He poured out His Spirit and I received Him with the evidence of speaking in  tongues, with discernment and interpretation. Imagine that! God pouring out His Spirit on me, who knew all the wrongs I had done, but He forgave me and moved me into position to accomplish His plans for my life.

Looking back on where I was and where I am today–I understand that God’s plans–those He purposed to accomplish great things to His glory–will come to pass; even if He has to wait on us to acknowledge Him. His plans never change, but He will not force us to do anything and will always honor our choices–to receive or reject, believe or not believe.“For I know the plans I have for You,” declares The Lord. “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29.11).

God’s plans for my life are continually unfolding and even though I don’t know what all of them entail, I am willing to trust Him and know that He only wants the best for me–as He does with all of His Children. For all who call upon the name of the Lord, shall be saved and adopted into the family! Hallelujah!

The Dead Have No Light to Shed!

“When someone tells you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? Consult God’s instructions and the testimony of warning. If anyone does not speak according to this Word, they have no light of dawn.” (Isaiah 8:19,20 NIV)

Consulting psychics through “whatever medium” they advertise is a waste of time and money. Why do people believe other people more than they believe God? Human nature has a tendency to only believe what they can see, touch, or smell–use of their five senses, but we have another avenue to journey through the guidance and direction of Holy Spirit who knows all things. And that is the problem for some–they think people know more than God and when they act on what they think, they ignore what is right before them–God’s Word.

Now, there may be some people who have been gifted with discernment and unfortunately, they choose to use God’s gift-given to promote Him, to promote them. We know that God’s gifts are without repentance–He won’t take them back once given, but we will suffer the consequences of our actions when we misuse or misrepresent Him and the gifts He has given.

When people “supposedly” consult those who are dead for any reason, we can tell they didn’t understand God’s Word because we are told, “the dead know nothing.”

At the same time, those who claim to be “seers” or capable of predicting the future are simply trying to bring glory and honor to themselves because if they could predict the future, they would be in a better position in life so they wouldn’t have to “fleece” people with their lies.

I’ve never understood anyone calling 800 numbers to speak to a psychic when they could open their Bible and consult God’s Word. I’ve never understood how anyone could have faith in “tea leaves” and any patterns they form when they settle in the bottom of a cup. I’ve never understood how the lines in a person’s hands or face could represent anything other than what they are–skin cell formations. And I certainly have never understood how “Tarot” cards could do anything, but perpetuate more nonsense in superstitious environments.

If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we must let go of all the darkness and dark things that keep us living in the light. The dead have no light to shed upon anyone or in any situation. The dead cannot speak, hear, see, or smell. They cannot advise us–who are yet living–about anything pertaining to life–lived in the light.

The truth of the matter is that some people would rather hold onto their superstitious traditions that to allow Holy Spirit to guide them. These are the people who do not know or understand how God the Father, came down to earth in the person of God the Son, and after being resurrected, sent His spirit back as God Holy Spirit so we would never be without wise counsel, comfort, and guidance in all things. It’s sad when unbelievers don’t understand this, but even sadder when Believers engage in superstitious nonsense–thinking the dead have any power. God’s not dead–He’s yet alive and He lives in the heart of every Born Again Believer who trusts Him.

So when I see people promoting “psychic” engagement to Believers–I know they are simply preying on human nature’s fallible need to have hope in something other than themselves. But God will have the last word in everyone’s life–judging their deeds based upon what their mouths confess. We cannot profess to Believe God and believe we can consult the dead or “psychics” about anything pertaining to holiness and righteous living. If we do, then we are truly living in darkness and not in the light of day.

Holy Spirit Control!

“Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:29-32 NKJV)

Whenever we hear foul-mouthed conversations in which every other word is profanity, we know Holy Spirit is not governing the person using the profanity. Whenever we see the end results of raging tempers–violence and death–we know Holy Spirit is not governing the person or persons involved. And usually, when one person demonstrates a lack of self-control, they engage or ignite the same type of reaction in others. The problem–people are too reliant upon their own self-control instead of allowing Holy Spirit to control what they say and do.

Submitting our thought-life and our tongues to Holy Spirit is not easy, but it is definitely a better path to take than depending upon our ability to control anything. What does it mean to submit our thought-life? It means that we stop thinking the thoughts that lead us astray. If the enemy tries to plant a thought in our minds that is not honoring God, we submit our response to Holy Spirit and allow Him to replace those thoughts with thoughts of righteousness.

Since most of us are fighting a constant battle with self-control, we are yet a work-in-progress. We have buttons that can be pushed and when we allow others to push them, we forget who we are and whose we are–to let others know, we are not a doormat. But do we really have to let others know anything other than we belong to God?

When we’re attacked–verbally–we don’t need to respond, but under stressful situations when frustration and agitation get in the way, we engage and the heat rises, sparking fires that sometimes rage out of control.

When we’re attacked–physically–we have a right to defend ourselves (though some would argue this) and our families. We do not have a right to instigate foolishness that embroils others into “never-ending feuds” that do nothing but create hostile environments for all. This is especially true for kids who tend to get caught up in stupidity. If a brother or sister starts a fight with someone else–let them handle on their own. If more than one person attacks a sibling, then by all means, we should do our best to protect them.

However, when people do stupid–no matter who it is–family, friends and neighbors should stay out of the fray. I’ve seen entire neighborhoods destroyed because of stupid people who thought they had a right to treat people any way they wanted to treat them and then expect no response by those who are harmed. Those attacked call in reinforcements to counter the action and the feud mushrooms–out of control until someone ends up dead.

When Holy Spirit is “allowed” to control our thoughts–we don’t think stupid-we think pleasing God. When our thought-life is controlled by Holy Spirit, then our tongues speak those things that build, encourage, and edify others. But Holy Spirit has to be allowed to control–He will not force us to do anything, and will allow us to think, say, or do anything we want to do. Of course when we do things that grieve Him, most of us know we need to repent, back up and give Him control so we don’t bring shame upon ourselves and displease God.

Life would be so much better for everyone, all over the world, if we would just allow Holy Spirit to be in control of our lives.